Coal chute



T. SKINNER Jan. 20, 1931.V

GOAL CHUTE Filed March 9. 1929 Patented Jan. 20, 1931 k i y Unirse' STATS naar ortica THOMAS sKrNivnR, or SOUTH PORTLAND, MATNE oo an "CHUTE y p appncaaaniea :aaien e, 192e. semi No. 345,635.

My invention relates, generally, to chutes- Fig. i is a fragmentary longitudinal seca channel-shaped device extensively em# tion through the floor of the chute, showing ployed when making delivery of coal, grain, means to check further Swinging `of the deor other' commodities susceptible of being Hector plate when raised toits operative pol 5 conveyed by sliding along the inclined sursition, and Y 55 face of the device to the bin or receptacle Fig. 5 illustrates the device, on a much in which the particular material being hanreduced scale, as it is used in practical op:- dled is to be stored. f GILOH- .Y l

An object of myrpresent invention is to Referring to the drawings, 1 is the floor or Y l supply a chute particularly adapted for use bottom of the chute, converging slightly when unloading coal from teams or trucks, toward the exit or delivery end thereof. 1 the chute having associated therewith novel represents the sides which, preferably, are means to prevent disfigureinent of the side of made integral with the bottom. Stiffening the building caused, in the case of the ordielements are provided in the form of the l nary chute, by displacement of the coal angle irons 2 which are'secured by electric 65 therefrom as itbounces along on its course Welding or by riveting to the top edges vof to the coal bin and is thrown or deflected the sides l', the lateral leg of the angle eX- against the wall of the house. tending inwardly. Y 4

Another object is to provide a stop mem- I further strengthen the chute by means of ber to hold the chute against further movebands and 4 which increases its ability to 70 ment inwardly when once positioned in its withstand hard usage.

proper place in the window opening." Y Located at a. suit-able point along the length A other object is to support the outward ofthe chute, nearer the delivery than the reend of the chute on a suitable prop so as to Ceiving end, lis a swingingly mounted defleclhold it at the correct inclination tol insure tor plate on each side of which wings 5 eX-I 75 easy movement of the material along its surtend toward the wider or receiving end of face. the chute. The wings yare extended to eml And a still further object is to embody in brace the sides of the chute and are pivotally a unitary structure a combination of eleconnected thereto at 7. Y

ments possessing in operation, and collec- The dei-lector plate is cut away at 8, leav- 80 tively, the foregoing advantages, and which ing an arcuate opening through which a pormay be folded compactly when lbeing transtion of the coal bounding lightly from the ported. y mainV body of coal may pass uninterruptedly WVith these and other objects in view, the to the bin. But lighter and smaller portions invention consists, primarily,rin the novel of the coal,'and the dust therefrom, rise far- 85 construction and arrangement of parts cather from the moving mass and would, under. pable of accomplishing thel hereinbefore ordinary conditions, strike against the buildmentioned objects; and for the purpose of ing, but are in the present instanceimpacted illustrating my invention I have prepared the against the transverse portionof the deflector y accompanying drawing in which like referand drop back into the chute-the lateral 90 ence characters are employed to identify wings assisting by preventing more or'lessof corresponding parts in all views thereof. the material falling off the sides ofthe chute In the drawingy 'on to theground.`

l Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are perspective views When the chute, incident Vto unloading the ofthe chute as viewed from its lower and coal, is being placed in position,` the smaller 95 upper ends, respectively, when arranged in end, under normal conditions, projects operative position; through the window opening in the building Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the chute until the stop-plate 9 abuts on the window shown with the parts folded for transportasill. This limits the movement inwardly ofl tion; the chute. 10

building.

The frame which, preferably, is constructed of two legs 10 suitably braced by cross members 11, is hinged or pivoted to the sides of the chute at 12, and when the chute is being operated it stands as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, with the deflector plate in close proximity to the wall of the building.

My chute is constructed on what might be termed a semi-knock-down principle-that is, the parts may be folded and brought into compact shape while yet they are undetached, one from the others. The deflector plate wings 5 are pivotally secured to the upstanding sides of the chute by being quite tightly riveted thereto, and by reason of the fact that the sides ofthe chute are tapering, relatively, this method of attachment provides all that is necessary to prevent accidental closing of the deflector which would involve a movement toward the position of the deflector shown in Fig. 3.

But to guard against movement ofthe deiector in the other direction-or towards the building when the chute is in operative position, I provide a construction which I illustrate in Figs. l and 4 in which a semi-circular reinforcing plate 13, surrounding the upper side of the space 8, issecured, preferably by welding, to the deflector. The ends of this half ring plate abut on the tops of the angle irons 2 and provide positive movement-limiting stops, as seen at m, Fig. il.l

On the angle at which the legs 10 are placed, relative to the chute l, depends the facility with which the coal, or other commodity, slides off its loor or bottom, and as constructed, the device is susceptible of more or less variation in this angle of inclination.

In most instances the legs find lodgement in comparatively soft earth and therefore provide sufficient stability to theV structure.

Should the legs, however, stand on cement Or-other smooth and slippery surfaces, thereinforcing element d may be employed to restrict their outward movement-the upper cross member 11 contacting with the member 4Lv to accomplish this purpose.

Theillustration in Fig. vBipresents the chute as a very compact, conveniently handled piece of apparatus, easily carried about from place to place; and in Fig. 5 it is shown operatively located'in a window Vif in the wall B of' a Vhen folded as seen in Fig. 3, the side,latch members 14 clasp around the legs l0 and hold the parts inV compact shape to transport.

The parts are fabricated, except wherepivotal connections are required, by electric welding-the materialbeing black iron subsequently galvanized. In, this way a very durable piece of merchandise is supplied.

The apparatus is capable of saving considerable time on the part of the teamster or truckman delivering the coal by obviating the necessity, usually falling on him when operating with the ordinary chute, of cleaning defaced walls of buildings and collecting coal dropped from the chute on to lawns or grounds surrounding the house. Furthermore, much time ordinarily is consumed by the teamster in locating boXes or barrels on vwhich to prop up one end of the ordinary the top edges of the respective sides of said chute when in operative position, and means to secure said delector plate flatwise against t-he edges ofthe sides of saidchute when folded thereupon.

2. In a device of the character described comprising a tapered channel shaped chute having pivotally attached legs to support one end thereof, a deiector plate having lateral portions disposed at right angles to its transverse portion, said lateral portions being eccentrically pivoted to the respective sides of said. chute, a reinforcing member secured to thelower transverse portion of said deflector plate, the ends thereof adapted to impinge on the top edges of the respective sides of said chute` and limit the rotary movement of said deiiector plate in one direction, and a latch secured` to said delector plate and adapted to. hold said deiiector plate flatwise against the edges of the sides of said chute when folded thereupon.

8. In a device of the character described comprising a tapered channel shape chute having foldable legs supporting one end thereof, a deflector plate including a transverse portion and two lateral portions eccentrically pivoted to the respective sides of said chute, a reinforcing member secured to the transverse portion of said deflector plate, the ends-ofV said memberadapted to engage the top edges of the sides of said chute and vprevent further rotary movement of said deilector plate in a direction toward the narrower endpof said chute, and a latch member fixed. on` each side of said deflector plate adapted to engage, respectively, the said legs when said deflect-or plate and said legsare folded against the upper and under sides, respectively of said chute.

- Invtestimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

THOMAS SKINNER. 

